Early Returns Give Dole Dixville Notch Victory

DIXVILLE NOTCH, N.H.--There's an old political adage which says: As Dixville Notch goes, so goes New Hampshire.

If so, then Robert J. Dale can count on the Granite state's four electoral votes, as he defeated President Bill Clinton 18 to 8 in this tiny village's midnight balloting.

Since 1960, Dixville Notch, which is nestled in the White Mountains just 10 miles from the Canadian border, has been the first municipality in America to open its polls. By state law, they are then closed and votes counted if each town resident casts a ballot.

It's fun, and we're setting an example," said Michael Pearson, 28, who voted for Dole. "Every town should get 100 percent turnout."

Pearson said he wanted to send someone to Washington who would "preserve the integrity of the office."

Reform Party candidate H. Ross Perot and Libertarian Party candidate Harry Browne each received one vote.

Dole won a majority of Dixville Notch's voters in the New Hampshire primary in February, though he lost the state of conservative commentator Patrick J. Buchanan.

Polls show Clinton with a slight edge throughout the state, which is recovering from an economic depression.